MK feeling lucky? FP strategy?

[Zaz936]

Hi all,

We'll be at WDW in less than 2 weeks, and yesterday, we were able to score FP for FOP. Considering this, I'm rethinking my FP strategy for MK.

We didn't get good FP, and my friend's daughter is really into princesses. So, with what we've got, the plan was :

Rope drop SDMT and then PP.
10:20 FP with Elena and Cinderella
12:20 FP Splash Mountain
1 PM Crystal Palace Lunch
2:20 FP Enchanted Tales with Belle

The next day, before VAH, my daughter and I already have Space, Splash and Big Thunder Railroad.

So my question. Should we keep our plan and then after 2:20 refresh for more fastpasses?

Or should I try to get PP or SDMT instead of the princess Meet and greet? If so, it's likely that I would have it later in the day... and not have a chance at more FP.

What do you suggest?

Thank you!

Isabelle

 

[CastAStone]

I would suggest that as soon as you get to the park, try to modify your least desirable FP, refreshing the modification periodically as you stand in lines etc until you see PP or 7DMT. That way you can start checking right away (heck, you can start now), but you don’t risk losing it if nothing better comes along.

 

[Zaz936]

Thanks! So if I understand correctly, its better if I get a PP or SDMT FP, even for the evening instead of doing them both at rope drop although it will limit the rest of my FP for the day?

Thank you!

 

[CastAStone]

If you can rope drop one of them, I would certainly recommend that. But I don’t think it’s necessarily true that it’s more likely that Peter Pan or seven dwarves fast passes will appear later in the day versus earlier in the day. They’ll appear as people drop them, which is very random, or as Disney releases more throughout the day (which they only do if they aren’t seeing significant ride breakdowns that day), in which case the return times tend to start immediately.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

Before park opens can be a really good time to get FPs for early in the day. People realize they aren’t going to get there in time for their first FP and change it.

 

[CML's mom]

Before park opens can be a really good time to get FPs for early in the day. People realize they aren’t going to get there in time for their first FP and change it.

Great Tip! Thanks!

 

[disneyfan150]

as Disney releases more throughout the day (which they only do if they aren’t seeing significant ride breakdowns that day), in which case the return times tend to start immediately.

Wow! Thanks for this info. I wondered why Disney did FP drops during the day.

 

[Remy is Up]

Wow! Thanks for this info. I wondered why Disney did FP drops during the day.

There are no drops at mk. Drops only occur in tiered parks at specific times. Almost all attractions are readily available at mk with some refreshing. The later in the day the more difficult some.of the upper level attractions can be to get.
Mk is most difficult later in the the day for 7DMT, pan, btmrr in that order. Anything else is generally available using refresh.

 

[disneyfan150]

There are no drops at mk. Drops only occur in tiered parks at specific times. Almost all attractions are readily available at mk with some refreshing. The later in the day the more difficult some.of the upper level attractions can be to get.
Mk is most difficult later in the the day for 7DMT, pan, btmrr in that order. Anything else is generally available using refresh.

I am a fanatical refresher. My next trip will probably solo - hoping that will make it easier to get the more elusive ones. I do have a list (can't find it at the moment) of the specific rides and time that get dropped. Not sure how accurate it will be in July. I made it from info collected for my 2019 trip. Thanks for your reply (which reminded me that MK is not on my misplaced list).

Any idea why does Disney do the drops?

 

[CastAStone]

Any idea why does Disney do the drops?

Disney holds back FP availability in case rides break down and they have to hand out a bunch of Multiple Experience FastPasses. At a ride like Test Track, which devotes most of its capacity to FastPass and breaks down all the time, Disney holds a bunch of FastPasses until day of, then if the ride is working OK, they release some of them them. If the ride is not working well, they never release the FastPasses, because all the people who didn’t get to ride earlier when it broke down will probably come back once it’s working again, and when FastPass gets backed up, it’s not very fast.

They do these drops generally 3x per day, although at MK, (which has substantially more ride capacity than the other parks) it seems more random.

 

[mamaofsix]

I'd leave what you have. If your friend's daughter is really into princesses, your current fp's are miles better than having 7DMT or PP anyway.

Honestly, our family couldn't get a 7DMT fp last trip and got up so early to rope drop it on an EMH morning. We got off the ride and all said to each other "that's it?!?" Such an underwhelming ride for all of the hype. Next time we'll rope drop Splash / Big Thunder or Space. Or even Jungle Cruise / Pirates.

All that to say, only stress about 7DMT fp's and rope dropping if you've all ridden before and LOVE it.

 

[Remy is Up]

I'd leave what you have. If your friend's daughter is really into princesses, your current fp's are miles better than having 7DMT or PP anyway.

Honestly, our family couldn't get a 7DMT fp last trip and got up so early to rope drop it on an EMH morning. We got off the ride and all said to each other "that's it?!?" Such an underwhelming ride for all of the hype. Next time we'll rope drop Splash / Big Thunder or Space. Or even Jungle Cruise / Pirates.

All that to say, only stress about 7DMT fp's and rope dropping if you've all ridden before and LOVE it.

I also find it underwhelming unless it is during after hours. For some reason it seems more "cranked up" than regular park hours. Seems that way with all the coaster rides during after hours.

 

[CastAStone]

I'd leave what you have. If your friend's daughter is really into princesses, your current fp's are miles better than having 7DMT or PP anyway.

Honestly, our family couldn't get a 7DMT fp last trip and got up so early to rope drop it on an EMH morning. We got off the ride and all said to each other "that's it?!?" Such an underwhelming ride for all of the hype. Next time we'll rope drop Splash / Big Thunder or Space. Or even Jungle Cruise / Pirates.

All that to say, only stress about 7DMT fp's and rope dropping if you've all ridden before and LOVE it.

I also find it underwhelming unless it is during after hours. For some reason it seems more "cranked up" than regular park hours. Seems that way with all the coaster rides during after hours.

Expectations for this and SDD can get mis-calibrated because of the wait times. The waits have been long because it's the new thing and because Disney doesn't have enough coasters and neither is particularly high-capacity (although 7DMT is higher than SDD). But 7DMT is a very standard mine train roller coaster, with the addition of swinging cars and a dark ride. But it you're looking for Rockin Roller Coaster, this ain't it. If you're looking for a next-gen dark ride with a few fun coaster elements, have I got a ride for you!

 

[Katiaz]

Personally I’d leave as is. If you are at the front of the rope drop pack you’ll be good. I did that exact rope drop, on Christmas Day, AFTER extra magic hour (which I wasn’t eligible for lol). I did both rides in about an hour, maybe 1.15. The queues for 7dwarves and PP are great, I enjoyed them. Keep your plan

 

[Katiaz]

Personally I’d leave as is. If you are at the front of the rope drop pack you’ll be good. I did that exact rope drop, on Christmas Day, AFTER extra magic hour (which I wasn’t eligible for lol). I did both rides in about an hour, maybe 1.15. The queues for 7dwarves and PP are great, I enjoyed them. Keep your plan

Btw I was able to get several additional fast passes using this strategy, in MK on a busy day, so again I vote for keeping as is and trying for more as soon as you tap in for your last FP.

 

[ClapYourHands]

I think people who know what the headliner FPs are sometimes tend to book those FP even when there's something else they'd rather do. I am guilty of this FOMO-driven FP choosing myself. I think many of us would have more enjoyable trips if we just booked the things that really interested us rather than booking rides because we know they're hard to get.

 

[Zaz936]

Thank you everone for your advice. I cannot wait to be there next week.